Recollection Rick

Chapter 41

"Do you need an Allen wrench?" Alexis inquires as she and Dana assemble a shelving unit for his kitchen. "I have the one from IKEA."

"Dana pulls a massive Swiss Army knife from the pocket of his jeans. "No, you hold on to it. I have a set of them on this."

"Dad is going to be jealous. Your knife has more stuff on it than his does."

"It's not my knife he's been worried about. But your father and I have been getting along great lately, especially since we told him I'm moving out. And he's been working pretty hard on the P.R. for our project. Your grandmother told me she might have something going too. She had a strange look when she said it."

Alexis nods. "Gram has a lot of strange looks. But with the way she's been floating around lately, it probably has something to do with the guy she's been seeing. She started to say something about Craig and Dr. Lee but stopped in the middle of a sentence like she remembered she was supposed to keep it to herself. But if there is a movie, something will pop up in Variety or The Hollywood Reporter."

Dana's brows rise beneath the hair flopping on his forehead. "You read those?"

"Gram was always leaving them around, and I got hooked," Alexis confesses, her pale skin flushing. "When they went online, I put alerts on my phone. And they're an early warning system that Dad's going to be pissed at something off in a gaming or comic book movie. When 'Uncharted" lost its third or fourth director, I forget which, he sulked for a couple of days and went through most of the potato chip fudge ice cream."

Dana licks his lips. "That is incredible stuff. I never knew it existed until you made that sundae for us."

"It is hard to find. I think only two stores in Manhattan carry it. After we get this thing put together, we'll have to make sure you have some basic groceries and kitchen stuff. Dad told me that before he sold 'In a Hail of Bullets,' it was either cook or live on Ramen."

Dana wrinkles his nose. "I hate Ramen."

"I know. And Dad has at least two sets of cookware in storage that he retired after something new came out. He'd probably have 10 if he hadn't given the rest to Goodwill and some homeless shelters. We'll get you set up when we finish moving you in tomorrow."

Dana gazes around his time-capsule kitchen. "I think this place is beginning to grow on you."

Alexis glances at the outdated stove and refrigerator. "You'll be here. That's what matters."


Craig pulls up a chair next to the mat where Martha is sitting cross-legged and meditating. He could probably join her. The problem would be getting up again. He has stuntmen, usually at least 20 years younger than he is, to do the fancy maneuvers in his movies. He's more or less in shape, but it's for his age. Fortunately, it appears that for his next film, no one will expect his character to be buff. He waits for Martha to open her eyes.

The diva's fiery lashes lift above the clear blue of her eyes. "You got the part!"

"I did," Craig confirms, reaching for her hand. "And it's not just a crime movie. It highlights the real conflict my character feels when he testifies to findings that may clear a suspect the public desperately wants to send to prison. I'm going to have to learn a lot of forensics-speak so I can understand my lines."

My son and his detective wife are pretty good with that sort of thing. But my granddaughter and her boyfriend have the scientific minds. They should be able to help you. And they'll welcome any help you can give them to get the producers on board with pushing their project." She reaches for her tote and rummages for her cellphone. "I'll call Alexis right now. She has the organization talent in the family and can put together a dinner or something."

Craig gives Martha his signature wink. "I'm sure she can."


The contestants have been introduced by the announcer and are already at their podiums when George strolls out to the lively Recollection theme. After a brief greeting to the audience and the players, he introduces the categories, reminding viewers that the subjects are chosen completely at random.

Rick can feel his throat tighten as "Ancient Greece" comes up. Other than the plays, it's not his strong suit. He feels a lot better about "Culinary Arts" and "Literary Figures." And it is only the first round. Most of the points come later, and unless a game is a complete runaway, everything hinges on the Final Recollection.

The time until the commercial break flies with only ten questions uncovered, and George chats with the studio audience until recording resumes. "Now is the time when you get to know the players a little better," he announces. "Bill Langston, our first returning champion, won 10 games last year and earned an impressive $220,000. What have you been doing in the past year, Bill?"

"Actually, what I've been doing flows directly from the show. I was fascinated by the renovation video category. My wife had been hinting about updating our house for years," the balding software engineer confesses. "So we used some of the money to give her the art studio she wanted, and I have a man cave now for all my trivia references."

George nods enthusiastically. "The perfect retreat for a Recollection champ. Now, Harley Cisznak, our archivist. You won 12 games and $250,000. Have you been preserving more antiquities?"

"I've been exploring antiquities," the sturdy brunette explains. "After the Dan Brown category, I read all his books and was inspired by his description of the library at the Vatican. I spent several months in Italy, absorbing as much as I could of the history and culture."

"I'm hoping your trip didn't lead you into the danger Dan Brown's characters encounter," George responds.

"Thankfully not," Harley replies. "The worst thing that happened to me was twisting my ankle climbing one of the seven hills of Rome."

"We're all glad you're back safe, Harley. And now, Richard Castle, our celebrity champ. I don't have to ask you what you did with your money because we know you played for several worthy causes. But I understand you've become involved with another one."

"Yes, I have, George," Rick confirms. "My daughter and her colleague discovered a dangerous situation for the students at Hudson University. They've since uncovered a range of personal products coming in from overseas with toxic levels of chemicals in them. They're engaged in tracking down these products and preventing them from poisoning students – or anyone else. It's difficult and ambitious work, and I'm proud to say that I'm supporting the endeavor in any way I can."

"And any money you win will go toward that effort?" George prompts.

"It will go toward publicizing the problem and funding the work to address it," Rick confirms.

George turns to the camera. "Our viewers can find more information about Stop the Poison on the Recollection website. And now, let's get back to our game. Bill, it's your turn to choose a question."

From an aisle seat in the third row of the audience, Dana turns to Alexis. "Well, your dad and George did it. When is this supposed to air?"

"In a month," Alexis replies.

Dana's jaw muscles grind. "I didn't think it would be that soon. Your father's lawyer fast-tracked the paperwork for the foundation he's setting up, but if it doesn't have non-profit status in time, the money will have to keep going through the university. And you know what a bureaucracy the school can be."

"Bureaucracy or not," Alexis declares, "we'll make it work."